It was announced this morning that two POV films have received nominations for a primetime Emmy award in the Exceptional Merit In Nonfiction Filmmaking category. Congratulations to POV filmmakers Steven Sebring, Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath!

Patti Smith: Dream of Life aired on POV on December 30, 2009. Shot over 11 years by renowned fashion photographer Steven Sebring, Patti Smith: Dream of Life is an intimate portrait of the legendary rocker, poet and artist. Following Smith’s personal reflections over a decade, the film explores her many art forms and the friends and poets who inspired her — William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan, Robert Mapplethorpe and Michael Stipe. Watch the trailer »

Filmed over 23 years, The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) is the Academy Award-nominated directorial debut of renowned cinematographer Ellen Kuras in a unique collaboration with the film’s subject and co-director, Thavisouk (“Thavi”) Phrasavath. After the U.S. government waged a secret war in Laos during the Vietnam War, Thavi’s father and thousands of other Laotians who had fought alongside American forces were abandoned and left to face imprisonment or execution. Hoping to find safety, Thavi’s family made a harrowing escape to America, where they discovered a different kind of war. Weaving ancient prophecy with personal testimony and stunning imagery, The Betrayal is a story of survival and the resilient bonds of family. The Betrayal premiered on POV on July 21, 2009. Watch the trailer »